Answering a distress call, Dylan, Tyr and Beka come upon the royal family of Ne’Holland. All have fallen victim to a recent attack, with the exception of King Florin, Prince Erik, and Yanos, a royal family retainer. Florin is soon mortally wounded right after he appoints Dylan and Tyr as Co-Regents to Erik. Trance works to heal Yanos, who slips into a coma. Erik explains to the crew that a group of Barons are responsible for the murder of millions of his people, including the royal family.

Being the third born son, Erik is unprepared for his new role as King. Dylan learns through background research that the royal family had fallen under charges of corruption, torture and genocide. Lt. Tjoe hails Andromeda to demand the return of any surviving members of the royal family, but Dylan refuses. He wishes to help settle matters on Ne’Holland because of its strategic placement near the Maggog worldship. Erik proposes a plan to Dylan to return power to Ne’Holland, but Dylan thinks Erik should pursue a more diplomatic route.

Yanos regains consciousness and insists on seeing Erik. When alone with Erik, Yanos reveals that he is the traitor and tries to kill him, but Erik fights back and kills Yanos. He then transmits a message back to Ne’Holland proposing peace talks. Archduke Constantijn responds with cynicism, pushing Erik to gain control of the Andromeda Ascendant. Later, Tyr secretly contacts Constantijn, offering Erik for a bounty. He then proposes a plan to Erik to kill Constantijn, but warns him not to tell Dylan of their plans. Erik struggles with the decision, but gives Tyr the go ahead to execute the plan.

Admiral Alexander leads the entire Defense Fleet to confront the Andromeda, hailing communication with Dylan and Erik. It becomes apparent that despite working for Constantijn, Alexander is interested in a peaceful solution. Erik begins to question his decision to have Constantijn killed.

Rommie informs Erik that Dylan, Alexander and Constantijn were able to reach a cease-fire agreement if Erik agrees to formal negotiations to share power with the nobles. The Royal Palace is set for the coronation. Tyr meets with Constantijn to discuss breaches in security so that Constantijn's snipers will be able to kill Erik during the coronation. Constantijn assures Tyr that once Erik is dead, his snipers will then kill Dylan, and the Andromeda will be in Tyr’s possession.

When Erik asks Tyr why the Barons are still alive, Tyr tells him that they must first stage the attack on him, so that he will seem a hero in the eyes of his people. Constantijn informs his snipers not to shoot until Erik steps out of the tent, but just before Erik does so, Dylan tells him to wait. At that moment, two fireballs shoot through the sky. Andromeda's warbots, Tweedledee and Tweedledum, land and confront the snipers. In a panic, Constantijn orders his troops to open fire, blowing his cover. Constantijn attacks Tyr, but is no match and is quickly defeated.

Erik tells Dylan that he has learned from Tyr to be ruthless like his departed family members, but he wants to try something different Ñ diplomacy. Dylan hands Erik his coronation speech, which proposes a democracy for the planet.